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© St. Petersburg Times, published October 4, 2001
Every American can strike a blow against Middle Eastern terrorism. When dealing with al-Qaida and their ilk, it must be remembered that their funding comes largely from oil money. The United States imports 50 percent of its oil, the bulk of it from the Middle East. Therefore, a way each American can strike a blow against terrorism is by reducing his consumption of oil.
The ways to do this are many and well known, but for some reason most Americans simply don't want to practice them. It seems we'd rather buy oil and fund Middle Eastern terrorists.
How can we reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil? Here are a few ways:
Give your car a tune up, and make sure it stays in tune.
Check your tire pressure often and make sure it stays where it belongs.
Leave the SUV at home and drive something that's a little less of a gas-guzzler.
Carpool.
Before you buy a new car, remember that more energy goes into the manufacturing of that car than that car will use in its lifetime on the road. If you must buy a new car, then get a diesel and fill it up with biodiesel, or get a Flexible Fuel Vehicle and fill it up with ethanol, both of which are made from American sources. Install a Frantz oil filter so you can change your oil every 30,000 miles instead of every 3,000. There is more we can do at home:
Replace your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents. They use 25 percent as much energy as incandescents and last seven times as long. Turn off lights when you aren't using them.
Set your air conditioning thermostat to 78 degrees. If this is too warm for you, then try wearing lighter clothing and using fans. If the weather is cool enough, then turn off the air conditioning and open the windows. Recycle. Every aluminum can or glass bottle you recycle saves the equivalent energy of half that container full of gasoline. Recycle plastic, too, since most plastic not only takes energy to manufacture, but is actually made of oil.
If the electric power industry is deregulated in your area then buy your power from a company that makes it with renewable energy like solar, wind, hydroelectric or biomass.
Write letters and send e-mail to your legislators and congressmen and tell them to support alternative energy legislation, which will reduce our national dependence on Middle Eastern oil.
These may seem like small blows when struck on a personal level, but if all of us strike similar blows together then we can knock the economic base out from under Middle Eastern terrorism.
We must stop allowing the United States to be held prisoner by Middle Eastern oil.
-- Alan Petrillo, St. Petersburg
If Attorney General John Ashcroft continues with his daily announcements, we'll have every one in the country looking behind every bush -- if they are not afraid to explore them.
One day he warns about crop-dusters, the next day he warns about trucks carrying hazardous materials. Would it not be advisable for him to button his mouth and leave investigation of those areas to security forces? Why look for ways to upset people more than they are?
-- Joseph Gagliardi, New Port Richey
Plenty of time has passed now to be able to let all Americans know that no matter how President Bush wants to paint it, our intelligence services dropped this ball. I'm sorry, but all the kind words to the CIA and others will mean nothing less than a veiled indictment of their incompetence.
Heads should roll, not be patted. All Americans should expect the very best from the agencies they support. We hold them in the highest regard and allow them the highest of security clearances. Get real, stop the illusion of an elite force of secret agents. They should have known, they should be held accountable. We, the American people, deserve nothing less.
-- J.N. Gironda, Spring Hill
Re: A nation changed, Sept. 23.
Philip Gailey's comments about the new level of discourse were as fascinating and insightful as usual, but I have one correction to offer.
The Rev. Jerry Falwell has never sincerely apologized for his assertion that the atrocity of Sept. 11 was caused in part by God's displeasure over liberals, feminists, gays, the ACLU and other groups that believe all human beings are created in God's image.
According to the Washington Post (Sept. 19), although Falwell was heard to murmur that he sincerely regretted his statements, he strongly asserted that his remarks were merely "ill-timed"; he was making a nuanced theological point that was misunderstood by a "secular audience" and his remarks were "taken out of their context."
In what context it is good theology to blame liberal American citizens of whom fundamentalist televangelists disapprove for the actions of fundamentalist Islamic terrorists, Falwell has never explained.
A number of commentators have opined that had President Bush not rebuked Falwell, even the grudging half-apology would not have been issued.
A few days after Falwell's remarks, which at the time his henchman Pat Robertson enthusiastically endorsed, Robertson stated that his applause for Falwell's slander arose because he had "frankly, not fully understood" it. On Sept. 21, Robertson sent a letter to the editors of the nation's newspapers that pretended he had never been so enthusiastic -- and compared himself favorably with Abraham Lincoln.
It is sad when men who view themselves as religious leaders speak without thinking. It is even sadder when their intended audience imbibes their untruths but not their "apologies." I have seen a number of e-mails over almost two weeks now echoing the writers' knee-jerk support for their intemperate tele-imams. It is small consolation that every supporter's e-mail that I have seen has been close to illiterate in language and tone.
A correspondent with the Washington Post wrote, "Falwell and Robertson would do well to reflect on the fact that this tragedy was begun by men who bear a remarkable resemblance to themselves: that is, religious zealots who are motivated by deep hatreds."
-- Mary W. Matthews, St. Petersburg
It has been my observation that in the last few weeks many retailers -- grocers, banks, auto dealers, restaurants, etc. -- have begun selling and displaying U.S. flags. I feel that there are many people like me who see these mushrooming displays as veiled marketing ploys.
I haven't bought a flag or decal to place on my car or a T-shirt that proclaims my pride in being an American -- a pride that does exist within me. In this world, as an American I feel I'm in the chosen crowd with the privileges of adequate food and housing. For the most part we Americans don't go to bed hungry and without hope for a better tomorrow -- circumstances that are rare in the areas of the world that have come to see us as the "enemy."
Giving to collections for disaster relief that helps the victims and their families is, to me, a more responsible display of unity. Helping people overseas meet their needs is as noble an endeavor as helping those at home. If I had a flag I would be waving it for peace, while hoping that in our search for justice over these attacks we don't support another military government that stands in the way of its own people's enrichment and freedom.
-- Dwayne Bickford, Pinellas Park
Through the dark days of our national tragedy, it has been a blessing to see the patriotism of Americans and especially the bravery and dedication of the rescue workers. The men who fought the hijackers on United Airlines Flight 93 and crashed in Pennsylvania are heroes in the classic sense. I hope that this patriotism and sacrifice can be sustained in the days ahead.
After Pearl Harbor, our country rallied. Young men quit jobs and college to enlist. Sons of well-to-do and influential families enlisted. Future presidents like John Kennedy and George Bush Sr. enlisted. Entertainers enlisted. I worry that this may not happen in our present crisis.
There are many reasons. One, of course, is that we do not have as well defined an enemy. In addition, however, I fear that the political climate of the last few decades has changed the perception that many have about our great country. It has become politically correct to divide into groups. Each group seems interested only in what the nation as a whole owes the group, not what the group can do to strengthen our nation. We no longer stress the melting-pot philosophy but instead stress a nation of diverse, competing groups.
No civilization has spent more time examining and studying its faults. Yes, some terrible things have happened and we need to acknowledge these and eradicate problems. However, we should spend at least as much time stressing achievements. This is not done and many young people end up with a negative view of our beloved land.
No other country is as generous and benevolent as ours. We entered World War II after a sneak attack by the Japanese. We fought four years and lost hundreds of thousands of our young and brave. After we brought the enemies to unconditional surrender, we helped rebuild our former foes. We also helped rebuild the war-torn countries of the world. Recent generations are not being taught this. Many hardly know about Pearl Harbor but all know we dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. We did this in order to end World War II, while many think we started it.
All this misinformation creates a negative impression in the minds of those who do not know better. How can we expect the uninformed to feel a consuming desire to defend a culture that they have been led to believe is so flawed? Let's hope that the American people will finally recognize the misinformation that has been fed to them. I pray they will. Then, I believe, they will rise to the occasion, as countless patriots have done in the past, and become another "Greatest Generation."
-- Rose Mary Spence, St. Petersburg
Re: Customers seethe after 48 hours without power, Sept. 17.
It was with utter disgust that I read some of the comments in Lisa Greene's article about loss of power. Do you realize these power workers are at a risk of life?
The storm was an act of God. Trees, limbs and debris were all over, knocking out power. If all you have to complain about is a cold shower and some spoiled food, at least you were not jeopardizing your life. We, too, were without power for 26 hours.
We salute these workers and the efficiency in the manner that they worked.
Just think of those people in New York and Washington and count your blessings.
-- Merle Swendsen, Brooksville
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